The story so far . . .

The HELIX is a project with history. It was developed from the idea of an eco-park, which was conceived as part of the Falkirk Greenspace Initiative. In 2004, with a new masterplan and additional partner support, the eco-park idea was turned into the current HELIX project.

2008

Work on the HELIX project will start in 2008 and will progress over three distinct phases. The project will span a 15 year period and beyond.

2007

The bid campaign for the Big Lottery Fund's Living Landmarks programme was a success and, in November 2007, the HELIX was awarded £25 million| . It was the only Scottish proposal to receive funding.

 

In late October 2007, the HELIX became the only Scottish project in the final bid stage |for the Big Lottery Living Landmarks funding.

 

In early October 2007, the bid for the HELIX project picked up a prestigious national award|. The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) rated The HELIX as the best example of 'Communication Partnerships' across local government in the UK.

 

In August 2007, Falkirk Council's Policy and Resources Committee gave a a strong signal of commitment to the HELIX project by agreeing to £5.7 million of support|.

 

In July 2007, a team from the Big Lottery Fund assessed the HELIX bid|. A specialist review team spent two days in Falkirk pouring over the plans and viewing the scale models of the Kelpies boatlift.

 

In May 2007, the £25 million bid |to the Big Lottery Fund's Living Landmarks programme was submitted.

 

In late April 2007, groundbreaking plans to create the world's largest horse sculptures| were developed by British Waterways and Andy Scott, one of Scotland's leading artists.

 

In early April 2007, following a Falkirk Enterprise Action Trust (FEAT) meeting, local businesses voiced their support| for the exciting new plans.

 

In March 2007, the Landlab team was appointed| to develop a series of outline design proposals.

2006

In August 2006, the Big Lottery Fund announced that the HELIX was being awarded a £250,000 development grant |to prepare a stage 2 submission by May 2007. The grant funded a national bid campaign to compete for a small number of grants between £10 million and £25 million each.

 

In June 2006, detailed plans of the HELIX were unveiled| at a meeting of Falkirk Council's Environment and Heritage Committee.

 

In May 2006, Big Lottery Fund assessors met representatives of the project partners, of My Future's in Falkirk partners and of community organisations and stakeholders. They visited sites at Abbotshaugh Community Woodland, Lock 2 and the Falkirk Stadium.

 

In January 2006, a bid was submitted to the BIG Lottery Fund by Falkirk Council. Key elements of the bid included landscape structure and connectivity, canal navigation and giant art works.

2005

In November and December 2005, two workshops were held to help develop the project concept and to test the vision. Workshops were attended by representatives of community planning partner agencies, community councils, community organisations, the voluntary sector, landowners, small businesses and interested individuals. The 'Change Your World' video was shown at both workshops.

 

In August 2005, young people from the local area took part in a Youth Congress and worked with an international group of young people to make a video 'Change Your World' about their concerns for the future of the environment.

 

During autumn 2005, a group of partners, Falkirk Council, Central Scotland Forest Trust and British Waterways Scotland supported by the project concept designers, further developed the project to build on the eco-park objectives particularly around 'quality of place', 'accessibility and connections', and 'engagement'.

 

In summer 2005, the Big Lottery Fund launched the Living Landmarks programme of funding to improve communities' quality of life and their environment. The My Future's in Falkirk partners identified the eco-park project as being eligible for this major funding programme.